His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Archbishop '''Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand''' (born [[July 10]], 1939; reposed [[July 1]], 2017) is was the current [[primate]] of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]from 1999 until his 2017 repose.

Badih enrolled at Seminary College, [[Balamand Orthodox Theological Seminary (Tripoli, Lebanon)|Balamand]], in 1952 with the support of Metropolitan Abourjeili. Five years later, he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name of Paul and sent to the [[seminary ]] on Patmos, Greece. A year later, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] by Metropolitan Abourjeili and went to the University of Athens for further theological studies.

1963 saw Deacon Paul graduate and serve in Tripoli under Metropolitan [[Elias (Kurban) of Tripoli]]. Dcn Paul was appointed teacher to Orthodox schools, member of the spiritual court and secretary to the diocesan board. In 1965, [[Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch|Ignatius (Hazim)]], the [[superior ]] of Balamand Monastery (now later Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch), appointed Dcn Paul as teacher at the Balamand Orthodox Theological Seminary. The next year, Metropolitan Elias ordained him to the [[priest]]hood and, in the same service, made elevated him an to the dignity of [[archimandrite]].

After two more years, in 1968, Archimandrite Paul left Lebanon for the [[Orthodoxy in America|USA]]. He was assigned by Metropolitan Philip to St IlyanEllien's Church in BransvilleBrownsville, Pennsylvania, and enrolled in a Bachelor of World Civilisations programme at Pittsburg University, graduating in 1970, whereupon he began a course in Education. In the same year, Archim. Paul was moved to a church in New Kensington and began a doctorate in World Civilisations. Only three of the four components of the doctorate were completed, but he graduated from his course in Education in 1972.

On the [[October 5|fifth of October]], 1999, Archimandrite Paul was elected Metropolitan Archbishop of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania, and was consecrated on the [[October 10|10th]] in Damascus, Syria. He arrived in Australia in early December 1999 to lead the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]. The tenure of Metr. Abp Paul has led seen a rapid growth in parishes, clergy and the use of English in the Divine Liturgy of Antiochian Orthodox parishes. From approximately six parishes at his arrival in December 1999, the total at December 2007 stood at 34 parishes or missions and 1 monastery served by 42 clergymen, including two university [[chaplain]]s and one military chaplain. In 2008, Metr. Abp Paul received into the Archdiocese two denominations in the Philippines, almost doubling the number of parishes (an additional 32) and adding ~6000 adherents to the Orthodox faith - though sadly, one of these two denominations left the Church soon after. It was around this time that the Archdiocese was renamed the 'Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Australia , New Zealand and the Philippines'.  At the time of his repose, there were 26 parishes, missions and communities in Australia, 5 in New Zealand]] , and 9 in the Philippines, in addition to one retreat centre ('Antiochian Village') in Goulburn, NSW. Soon after, Patriarch John appointed Archimandrite Basil Kodseie (a priest resident in Australia, having arrived a few years prior) to be the present dayPatriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese[http://www.antiochianarch.org.au/NewsItem.aspx?i=776].

title=Metropolitan Archbishop of Australia, and New Zealand and All Oceania (Antiochian)|years=1999-present2008|

*[http://www.antiochianantiochianarch.org.auArchdiocesan website]*[http:/content/view/4/22www.antiochianarch.org.au/ ArchbishopPaul.aspx Official Biography] from the website of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand